I know a few of you photo military planes. I'm just after a few places where you take them. My 5 year old lad would love to see them screaming past. Is it just hit or miss if you see any or do you get info on what's going to be flying. I could take him to an air show. But was after somewhere a bit more just me and him. Many thanks guys. I'll have my camera as well.
Hello mate, RAF Coningsby and Lakenheath are my favorite airbases for photography: RAF Coningsby RAF Coningsby is great as there's viewing areas all round the base. If you can get there this week you'll be able to see the latest Typhoon display, The new display pilot is practicing most of this week. On the Weds 2nd he's displaying at 0800-0830 1300-1330 1700-1730 and on the 4th 8:00-8:30 and 13:00-13:30. He probably wont display in all the slots. Generally speaking activity at Coningsby is pretty good, They generally start late on Monday and finish early Fridays 2pm ish. I've never had a slow day at Coningsby and on average you'll probably see 25+ movements during the day. Here's a guide: http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/spotting/coningsby.php Go to point K for the Typhoon display RAF Lakenheath Lakenheath is another great base to visit, Again they start late on Mondays and finish early Fridays there's only two viewing areas though but there good. I find Lakenheath's a little bit busier than Coningsby, It's not unusual to see 20+ jets go up in a single wave. As it's an American base avoid national holidays. You'll get more jets using the afterburner at Lakenheath and the F15 Eagles are a fair bit more powerful than our Typhoons at Coningsby so it's pretty loud . Here's a guide to Lakenheath http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/spotting/lakenheath.php Also RAF Mildenhall is about 5 miles from Lakenheath so if it's quiet there you can got to Mildenhall and catch the tankers and special ops stuff which includes the CV22 Ospreys , Here's a guide to Mildenhall http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/spotting/mildenhall.php Hope this helps
If you want to keep up to date on base movements etc join fighter control forum http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/
Cheers guys.is entry free at these bases? Think my lad would wet himself if he saw something like that.
You don't enter the bases so yep it is free. Although you can pay to go in the battle of Britain memorial flight hangar at Coningsby.
At Coningsby, at the end of the runway on Dogdyke Road there is a specific 'spotters' car park which is free to stay as long as you like. There is a burger van there most days too but I'd take food etc with you, or pop to the co-op in the village itself. Should take you around 1hr 45 to 2 hours to get there.
I've read about needed step ladders. Is that just for taking photos over fence? Is it chain link fence that you can see through? As long as we can see the planes.
It's a wire fence so you can see through it, plus they come in to land/take off virtually over your head. Some people with 7ft lenses use ladders, but it's by no means necessary.
I go to the Mach Loop in Wales. Just google it you'll find all the info you want. I would defo take a shelter of some type or at least a good wind proof coat. It's very windy on Cad West. Here's a link of what you should expect to see. http://youtu.be/3-7zHlOi4T4
Pot luck i'm afraid mate, There's no flying on Weekends. It's a great place to visit though with stunning views especially on cad west. Join this forum for all the info you could ever wish for on the mach loop. http://fox2.co.uk/index.php?sid=adb89c0d02e8084aa72ea637cb96279d
